If this book were as funny as your blog posts about growing up, I would definitely buy it. I love laughing out loud while I'm reading books, because no one else knows why I'm laughing. It's like having a wonderful secret! Go for it, Johnny!

Love the cover, and I would love the book. It would e a great gift for anyone who survived the 70's, and anyone with a techie job, like yours. I like your work stories a lot, (weirdest boss, things in the bathroom, special dark before he went dark)... The next time I see that cover design, I hope it is on Amazon, Johnny!

You are really talented, I don't think you'd have any problem getting a book deal done.~ Camille

I LOVE IT! (yes I meant to shout) It is perfect. I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't buy it. oh, wait, maybe some goth chick or tweaker... but the rest of us, hell yeah, I'd even buy copies for my childhood friends. What a blast. I'm hoping the best for you.

I've only left like 3 comments on this blog; the first was an encouragement to write a book! My only complaint would be that a book of childhood stories would be void of Squattersons and septic tanks...

I'm with Shamus - publish it yourself. More profits that way, and you already know we'll all buy it, even if we didn't read the blog. Judging a book by its cover, that's got some good stories. Either way you publish, I volunteer for your "street team!"

And as much as I like the idea of a follow-up with your grown-up stories, a lot of the Squattersons, work stuff, etc. is already here. So...you have to split your material? Some for the blog and some for the book? It would be hard knowing you're holding out on us.

I'd buy one and one for my brother (who is probably still waiting out in the hall to be the milkman)...no, you can't use that in your book...well, maybe if you give me a free copy when you are published. hehehe!

And JV, I hope you get this far in your comments - Have you checked out the "Waiter Rant" blog? He was a blogger just like you (diff material of course) , and really did get a book deal. He's currently on his 3rd week of the N.Y. Times Best seller list.

He wrote between stories about the book writing process (he'd never written one before) about how much it takes, trials, tribulations, what-not, and the good stuff too.

It would do you good to check out those posts. :) Just so you can be prepared and I can buy your book of course :P

I would absolutely buy that book! I grew up in the 70s, too (although a few years behind you), and your stories bring back a lot of memories of my own childhood. Plus, I love the way you write about your mom--with so much warmth and humor, but no sappiness. It will be a terrific book, I'm sure.

JV, I'd buy your book if it were mimeographed and stapled in the wrong corner so...yeah, I'll definitely buy a nicely bound publication. Not to freak you out, but my youngest son (3) has a shirt (apparently) identical to the one worn by the boy on your cover. Classic.

Yeah, I'd buy it. Even if I suspected that it would suck I would buy it. I figure I owe you big time for all of the hours of fun I've had reading your blog. I love your writing and I'm sure it'll be a great read.

Soon you'll be stacking $50 dollar bills over the holes in your roof, I'm sure. I hope your wealth doesn't change you. I know it would change me. Even though I'm not in any way orthopedically impaired, I'd immediately get me a cane with a giant gold dollar sign on it - and possibly a top hat. But that's just me.

Oh my goodness YES I would buy this book. I would use it as my pick in my bookclub so 8 other women (6 of them teachers) can read and they would tell their friends and in a month's time you will be on the NY Times Best Sellers list.

JV - YES, I've been waiting to buy it for some time now. Pleeeeze be sure to let the public know on the cover and synopsis (and whatever else they do to promote and describe books) that you're the infamous JC Penney blogger guy (marketing, Son, marketing). I'll buy several for gift-giving for every occasion in 2009 (or 10).

May I make a suggestion about the subtitle? The two adjectives, "humorous" and "death-defying" modify "tales" as it is written. But it is not the tales themselves which are death-defying. It is the acts relayed in those tales. Maybe "humorous tales of death-defying childhood misadventure." But I'm sure your editor/publisher would have taken care of that.

Sorry I don’t have time to go through all the comments. So, I may be repeating something that has already been said. If I do, I apologize in advance, and if not then we all can learn something new.

Self publish what you have now. Go to blurb.com and you can upload your blog to their site. Make your adjustments and poof, Bob’s your Uncle you have a book. You can also put the book up for sale on their site and direct users/customers to purchase the book form the site and get rich in the meantime.

I’m sorry did I mention I would buy your book. OK, lets get down to brass tacks. Since all your fans have now encouraged you to give up your life savings and go forward in becoming an “Author”, will we get signed copies?

The only problem with you publishing a book is that I won't be able to get my fix for free anymore! I recently started at the beginning of all your blogs when I found out you were the "JC Penny Catalogue" guy, and you have that fantastic ability to be both heartwarming and snortingly (?) hilarious at the same time.You can definitely count your stories and writing as equal to or better than authors like Augusten Burroughs, Laurie Notaro, etc.Please make sure the book will be available in Canada!!!**Shannon**

I'd buy it both for myself and for my brother as a gift ... when I read your stories, I think of my childhood, but even more of my brother and his friends. I bet you could sell a lot because others would feel the same way about guys in their lives who lived (just barely) through similar adventures.

Not only would I buy one for me, but for the entire family for Christmas, and ALL my friends who survived their childhood in the '70s and still have enough brain cells left to read. PUBLISH THAT PUPPY!

Duh! Of COURSE I would buy this book...likely several copies...did you read my previous comment on your most recent blog about how my Favorite Book Ever started as a collection of stories about growing up? (A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel and the sequel, She Got Up Off the Couch) I TOTALLY LOVE those two books and have bought and lent and recommended them more times that I can count...I'd love to have the opportunity to do that with your book!

I'd buy it and give it as gifts to my siblings who also grew up in the 70s (please include the trip to the petting zoo...I sent your blog to my father who said all we had to do was change the names and it could be our family)

I've been reading since before you were the JCPenney catalog guy. I would love it if you'd publish this book. As others have said, self-publishing is a great option. I'm a member of a group who published through Lulu.com and we were really impressed with how great they were.

OK, I work in a library and I have a bit of an addiction to books. Sometimes I pick them because of the author or a recommendation or even something I read. But sometimes, I pick up a book completely and totally because of it's cover. I know the old adage, but I have noticed for me I tend to like the books that drew me in with the cover alone.

The cover you have designed would draw me in and yes, I would buy the book based on the cover alone. The plus side for you is that since I have also become attached to your silly little ramblings, I would have to buy the book because it was from you. (I wonder if that means I would have to buy two?)

Seriously, you are a really good writer and your childhood tales are great. You should definitely write this.

I would definitely buy your book. Your stories are well written in addition to captivating. You obviously have a following and I am sure that anyone who has read your work would be delighted to own any book written by you.

I have 3 sisters and a brother who would love your book as much as I would. Your stories have a common thread that anyone growing up in the 60's and 70's can relate to. You gotta somehow work in the JCPenney stuff - it's too great to leave unpublished.

The Snitch, Houdini & Me, by Johnny Virgil would be on all wish lists to Santa and under every good little boy and girls Christmas trees. It would also be the book that everybody is talking about (sshh...can you hear them now?)